Friday, February 10, 2006
'Jeffersons' Co-Star Franklin Cover Passes Away; ABC Changes Tuesday Line-Up; Wonder Years to DVD?
Franklin Cover who played Tom Willis on the long running '70s & '80s sitcom The Jeffersons passed away on Sunday in New Jersey. Cover died of pneumonia Sunday at the Lillian Booth Actor's Fund of America home in Englewood, N.J., said publicist Dale Olson. He had been living at the home since December 2005 while recuperating from a heart condition. Cover was best known for his role as Tom Willis, who was in an interracial marriage with a black woman, in The Jeffersons. Cover guest starred on many TV series over the years including The Jackie Gleason Show, The Love Boat, 227, Who's the Boss?, Living Single, Coach, Mad About You and Will & Grace.
Hopefully TV Land or another network (maybe TV One?) will air a tribute marathon of Mr. Cover featuring his finest Jefferson episodes. Mr. Cover was 77.
ABC announced today that they will change their Tuesday line-up for the remainder of sweeps (Feb. 14, 21 & 28). Commander in Chief will be off the line-up to avoid the Olympics. Additional airings According to Jim and George Lopez will air in the 9 p.m. hour on these dates. Commander in Chief will return April 18 for its final seven episodes of the season. Chief has been one of the highest rated rookies this year, but lately has faltered in adults 18-49. I still feel confident the show will do well when it returns with less competition. And I also feel it will return next season, but on a different night and time, I'm sure.
Also, we have word that The Wonder Years is in the works for DVD from 20th Century Fox! It's about time that sitcom starring Fred Savage is coming. No additional details yet, but stay tuned! UPDATE 2/11/06: I spoke to Gord of TVShowsonDVD.com and his sources tell him that there are no new updates on this set. So, now we have no idea if the set is really in the works or not. The source I spoke to at Fox said it was in the works, but his source says it isn't. So we are now just confused. We'll try to get more details if it is indeed in the works at all now. Sorry about this!
Also, Ally McBeal fans don't fret, the show is coming to DVD but it has not been announced just when yet. Many fans saw the announcement at TVShowsonDVD.com for Boston Legal for May 23 and wondered if Ally was coming that day, too? It doesn't seem like it will, but it IS coming sometime soon. So that is good!
Sitcoms Airing Tonight / Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows
Thursday, November 20
Georgie & Mandy's First Marriage - "Heartbreak and the Refuge of the Downtrodden" (CBS, 8:00PM ET/PT)
Georgie, Mandy and the family do their best to lift Connor’s spirits during a rough patch while Connor tries to figure out a plan for his life.
Ghosts - "Planes, Shanes and Automobiles" (CBS, 8:30PM ET/PT)
Unsatisfied with Jay’s ability to tend to their needs while Sam is away, the ghosts bring in a better babysitter, Kyle. Meanwhile, Sam and Pete get on each other’s nerves during a book tour road trip, and things reach a breaking point when an airline strike threatens their ability to get home in time for Thanksgiving.
Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows (Week of November 17)
Thursday, November 20
- Kerry Washington (UnPrisoned) - Catch Kerry on Jimmy Kimmel Live! at 11:35pm on ABC.
- Jennifer Lawrence (The Bill Engvall Show) - Jennifer is a guest on a repeat of The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon at 11:35pm on NBC.
- Sebastian Maniscalco (Bookie) - Sebastian talks about his comedy special It Ain't Right on Comedy Central's The Daily Show at 11pm, on ABC's Good Morning America sometime between 7-9am, on ABC's GMA 3: What You Need to Know at 1pm and on ABC News Live Prime with Linsey Davis at 7pm.
- Ronny Chieng (Young Rock/Ronny Chieng: International Student) - Ronny hosts Comedy Central's The Daily Show at 11pm.
- Jeff Goldblum (Search Party) - Jeff talks about Wicked: For Good on Live with Kelly and Mark, so check your local listings.
- Sherri Shepherd (Mr. Iglesias/Trial & Error/Sherri/Less Than Perfect/Suddenly Susan) - Sherri stops by Live with Kelly and Mark, so check your local listings.
- Kristin Chenoweth (Stumble/Trial & Error/Kristin) - Kristin appears on CBS Mornings sometime between 7-9am.
- Tracy Morgan (Crutch/The Last O.G./30 Rock/The Tracy Morgan Show) - It's a reunion with Sherri's 30 Rock husband Tracy Morgan on Sherri, so check your local listings.
New on DVD and Blu-ray
01/28 - Wait Till Your Father Gets Home - The Complete Series (Blu-ray)
02/04 - The Wayans Bros. - The Complete Series
03/11 - Frasier (2023) - Season Two
04/01 - Abbott Elementary - The Complete Third Season
05/13 - The Drew Carey Show - The Complete Series* (missing 4 episodes and some music has been replaced or altered)
06/06 - Shoresy - Season 2
06/17 - Looney Tunes - Collector's Vault - Volume 1 (Blu-ray)
07/22 - Bewitched - The Complete Series - 60th Anniversary Special Edition (Blu-ray)
08/26 - The Huckleberry Hound Show - The Complete Original Series (Blu-ray)
10/07 - Georgie & Mandy's First Marriage - The Complete First Season
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